Natalie's Score: 87/100

The 2006 harvest in Chile's Maipo Valley was late to start but also stretched out over a long period of time before the last cluster was picked. To amplify the inherent floral character and to encourage a long, slow fermentation in small tanks, the winemaking team used two selected yeast strains. To maintain its fruitiness and balance, this wine did not undergo malo-lactic fermentation. After the wine had been lightly fined, it went through a cold stabilization procedure. Prior to being bottled, it was given a polish filtration. Cousino's vineyards are located in the Alto-Maipo, the area of the Maipo Valley closest to the Andes Mountains where certain sites benefit from the "Andes Effect." This refers to the cooling mountain air that descends during the evenings to create a wide range in daily temperature. For white wine, the difference between high and low temperatures means that grapes preserve unusually crisp acidity and the resulting wine is full-flavored and structurally-balanced. An excellent aperitif. A crisp, clean white with notes of grapefruit, lime and green apples.

Riesling food pairings: Asian dishes.

This Cousiño Macul Dona Isidora Riesling 2006 was reviewed on July 15, 2008 by Natalie MacLean